Mobile medicine cabinet and method of use

ABSTRACT

A mobile medicine cabinet and method of use comprising a first half of a case and a second half of a case, wherein the first and second halves are pivotably attached to one another between a closed position and an open position the case closable by closing a zipper attached to the first and second halves, the case when closed determining a thermally insulated and moisture resistant interior cavity; and a multiplicity of holders, adapted for removably securing medication containers; and one or more labels for identifying a user of the cabinet, wherein the one or more labels comprises a unique identifier; a medication information storage compartment affixed to an interior face of the second half; where user information is remotely stored and can be transferred to a medical provider upon request by a user who provides the unique identifier and a PIN.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This present invention relates generally to a mobile medicine cabinet and method of use, and relates more specifically to a portable temperature, moisture resistant, and puncture resistant device that contains a user's medications and dosing instructions as well as a unique user identifier, where the unique identifier can be used to identify, along with a PIN, the user to a service provider in order to facilitate transfer of the user's medical information to a medical provider.

2. Description of the Related Art

Presently, individuals do not have a way to store and carry their medicines and associated information, such as dosage and timing instructions, in a convenient way, such that the medicines are protected from temperature variations, humidity, and physical damage.

Most people keep their medicine containers in a built in medicine cabinet located in either the kitchen or bathroom of their home. When the need arises for someone to travel away from the home, he or she has the current option of carrying medicine containers in a standard cosmetic bag, paper bag, or plastic bag, all of which provide no protection against changes in temperature, exposure to humidity or liquids, or from being crushed.

Further, difficulty exists when the need to move quickly, as during an evacuation, creates added stress and anxiety which may cause a person to forget to gather all of his or her medications. A person would have to gather his or her medications from either a kitchen cabinet, a bathroom cabinet, both, or other locations, find a temporary container, all under a time duress. If a person were to leave his or her residence without all needed medications in sufficient quantities, a dangerous, even potentially life-threatening situation could result.

A lesson was learned by the victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. In the aftermath of that disaster, as people fled their homes and relocated to distant areas, doctors and other healthcare providers struggled to determine which drugs the victims needed based on their health condition and prior use. These problems were further complicated by difficulties in locating sources and supplies of these drugs as quickly as possible. Both victim's medication information and drug products were difficult if not impossible to obtain in a timely manner.

Hurricane Katrina, in particular, as well as other recent natural disasters and the looming threats of possible terrorism since Sep. 11, 2001, have brought into focus the urgent need to devise a way for people to quickly and securely take their medicines with them when they leave their home. People with medical conditions that require diligence and compliance in taking daily prescription medicines to maintain independent and healthy lifestyles are most in need of such a solution.

A need in the art exists for a portable moisture, temperature, and puncture resistant medicine cabinet in which medications could be stored in their original containers for emergency evacuations, and a way for people who have been separated from their usual medical providers to acquire refills or replacement of their medications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention replaces the built in kitchen or bathroom medicine cabinet as the place to store medicines. Bathrooms and kitchens are two of the highest humidity prone areas in a home. Humidity is often the cause of degradation of medicines rendering them sub-potent or ineffective. Permanently storing medicines in the present invention improves the storage and safe portability of life saving, costly prescription medicines.

The present invention, in the open position, is functional for daily use, but easily and quickly closes to become a mobile chest for pleasure travel or emergency evacuation from home. The interior design provides light, temperature and moisture resistance, and the exterior is designed to be rugged and prevent the contents from damage. Additionally, a reflective material is incorporated on an exterior surface to help locate it in the dark, making it is less likely that some medicines will be inadvertently not packed or left behind if they are always stored in the same device in which they travel. It is desirous that the medications be kept in the present invention in their original labeled containers and ready for immediate portability.

In addition, the present invention has a unique identifier which provides a mechanism by which a user of the mobile medicine cabinet who subscribes to a service can grant permission to the service provider themselves or have the user's designated healthcare power of attorney grant permission to the service provider to give medication and basic medical information to a medical provider during medical emergency or urgency situations. A user whose bag has been misplaced or stolen while traveling may have the user's medication information and history retrieved for use by the user's medical provider in the user's new location in order to replace the user's medications.

The service provider stores and maintains user information about the user including name, address, phone numbers, date of birth, allergies, chronic medical conditions, emergency contacts, medications, primary care physician, main healthcare facility, healthcare power of attorney, living will, and other desired data. The user initializes and updates user information with the service provider periodically by means of fax, mail, secure website, or other desired means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a mobile medicine cabinet in the closed zipped position in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a mobile medicine cabinet in the open unzipped position in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a user updating user information remotely and requesting transfer of user information by a service provider to a medical provider in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now in detail to the drawing figures, the present invention is a mobile medicine cabinet 10 comprising a first half 11 case and a second half 12 of a case, which are connected by a hinge 13 to allow the cabinet to switch between the open and closed positions.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cabinet 10 is in the closed position, its portability enhanced by the strap 16 attached to one side of the cabinet 10. Preferably, the first half 11 (not shown) and the second half 12 are secured together by zippers 18 and 19.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cabinet 10 is in the open position, where the zippers 18 and 19 are moved to the hinge 13, allowing the first half 11 and second half 12 to swing open and separate except at the hinge 13. The interior of the cabinet 10 is then accessible to the user. A flap 14, which is tucked in the interior of the cabinet 10 while closed, is now available and has a hook 15 attached to it allowing the user to hang the cabinet in a vertical open position for convenient access to the contents of the cabinet.

The interior of the cabinet contains, on the interior face of the first half 11, holders 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36 for medication containers. The second half 12 contains a first label 20 for the user's name, a second label 22 for the unique cabinet identifier, and a storage compartment 24 for medication information. The medication information comprises prescription information, contact information for the user's pharmacy, doctor, or other healthcare provider, dosage instructions, and other important information regarding the medications and user's medical history.

The unique cabinet identifier on label 22 is used in conjunction with an outside service provider to identify the user and provide for off-site storage of user information, including, by way of example, medical history and medication information., as described below.

The portability of the cabinet is enhanced by the adjustable carrying strap 16, which is preferably a strap long enough to carry the cabinet 10 on the shoulder or back of the user, but may also be a simple handle to be gripped by the user's hand.

The first half 11 and second half 12 form a clamshell design pivoting about the hinge 13. Preferably, the two halves 11 and 12 are constructed from any suitable material known in the art that has ballistic properties to prevent the cabinet 10 from changing shape due to exterior forces and to prevent the contents of the case from being damaged. In addition, the two halves 11 and 12 are constructed of a material or have a layer incorporated therein that resists moisture penetration to the interior of the cabinet 10 when in the closed position. Additionally, the two halves 11 and 12 will have on their exterior surfaces a reflective material to aid the user in locating the cabinet 10 in low light conditions.

The zippers 18 and 19 are preferably large and easy to grip and be strong and durable. Preferably, the zippers 18 and 19 aid in preventing moisture from penetrating into the interior of the cabinet. When the cabinet 10 is in the closed position, the zippers 18 and 19 are adjacent to one another. To open the cabinet 10 to the open position, the zippers 18 and 19 are moved in opposite directions until they reach opposite ends of the hinge 13. The two halves 11 and 12 are then able to be separated about the axis of the hinge 13.

In the interior of the cabinet 10, the holders 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36 are preferably webbed storage pockets, but optionally may be constructed of an elastic material that forms around the medication containers or pouches that securely hold the medication containers in place, while allowing the containers to be removed by the user to obtain the medication inside the containers. The dimensions of the holders are preferably varied to secure two or more different standard sized medication containers providing greater adaptation to a user's mixture of containers, but the holders may optionally be of any desired dimension.

As shown in FIG. 3, a user communicates updates of the user information with a service provider, who stores the user information. The communication of new user information can be by fax, mail, secure website, or any other desired means known in the art. When requested by the user, and after a PIN is given along with the unique identifier to authenticate the request, the service provider accesses the user information and transfers the user information to the medical provider. The PIN can be a series of numbers, a password, a series of letters, a combination of numbers and letters, a series of questions and answers arranged in advance, or any desired methods to ensure the request by the user is authorized. The unique identifier is associated with the user information and allows the service provider to access the correct user information. The medical provider is any provider of medical services to the user including, by way of example, physicians, hospitals, and pharmacists.

Should the user find themselves away from home, unable to, or without contact with the user's usual medical provider, and the user's medications are running low in the user's mobile medicine cabinet, the user can utilize the unique identifier and PIN to make the request to the service provider to transfer desired user information to the medical provider in the user's new location. Should the user become separated from the user's mobile medicine cabinet or lose it, the user can contact the service provider to transfer user information to a medical provider in order to replace the user's medication.

In another embodiment, the invention comprises:

-   -   a) a first half of a case and a second half of a case, wherein         said first and second halves are connected along one side by a         hinge;     -   b) a multiplicity of holders, adapted for removably securing         medication containers, positioned on an interior face of said         first half;     -   c) one or more labels for identifying a user of said cabinet;         and     -   d) a hook for vertically hanging said case.

In yet another embodiment, the invention comprises:

-   -   a) a first half of a case and a second half of a case, wherein         said first and second halves are pivotably attached to one         another so that said first and second halves are pivotal         relative to each other between a closed position in which the         first and second halves are generally parallel to each other,         and an open position in which the first and second halves are         pivoted away from each other, the case closable when said first         and second halves are in the closed position by closing a zipper         mutually attached to the first and second halves, the case when         closed determining a thermally insulated and moisture resistant         interior cavity;     -   b) a multiplicity of holders, adapted for removably securing         medication containers, positioned on an interior face of said         first half;     -   c) one or more labels for identifying a user of said cabinet;     -   d) a medication information storage compartment; and     -   e) a hook for vertically hanging said case when in said open         position.

In yet another embodiment, the invention comprises:

-   -   a) a first half of a case and a second half of a case, wherein         said first and second halves are pivotably attached to one         another so that said first and second halves are pivotal         relative to each other between a closed position in which the         first and second halves are generally parallel to each other,         and an open position in which the first and second halves are         pivoted away from each other, the case closable when said first         and second halves are in the closed position by closing a zipper         mutually attached to the first and second halves, the case when         closed determining a thermally insulated and moisture resistant         interior cavity;     -   b) a multiplicity of holders, adapted for removably securing         medication containers, positioned on an interior face of said         first half;     -   c) one or more labels for identifying a user of said cabinet,         wherein said one or more labels comprises a unique identifier;     -   d) a hook for vertically hanging said case;     -   e) a flap attached to said second half, wherein said hook is         attached to said flap;     -   f) an adjustable length carrying strap attached to said case;     -   g) a medication information storage compartment affixed to an         interior face of said second half; and     -   h) a reflective material on an exterior surface of said case.

In yet another embodiment, the invention comprises:

A method of using a mobile medicine cabinet comprising:

-   -   a) providing a mobile medicine cabinet comprising:         -   1) a first half of a case and a second half of a case,             wherein said first and second halves are connected along one             side by a hinge;         -   2) a multiplicity of holders, adapted for removably securing             medication containers, positioned on an interior face of             said first half;         -   3) one or more labels for identifying a user of said             cabinet;         -   4) a hook for vertically hanging said case;     -   b) storing user information remotely by a service provider;     -   c) requesting said user information from said service provider         by said user;     -   d) authenticating request by said user to said service provider         by giving said unique identifier and a PIN to said service         provider; and     -   e) transferring said user information to a medical provider.

In yet another embodiment, the invention comprises:

A method of using a mobile medicine cabinet comprising:

-   -   a) providing a mobile medicine cabinet comprising:         -   1) a first half of a case and a second half of a case,             wherein said first and second halves are pivotably attached             to one another so that said first and second halves are             pivotal relative to each other between a closed position in             which the first and second halves are generally parallel to             each other, and an open position in which the first and             second halves are pivoted away from each other, the case             closable when said first and second halves are in the closed             position by closing a zipper mutually attached to the first             and second halves, the case when closed determining a             thermally insulated and moisture resistant interior cavity;         -   2) a multiplicity of holders, adapted for removably securing             medication containers, positioned on an interior face of             said first half;         -   3) one or more labels for identifying a user of said             cabinet;         -   4) a medication information storage compartment;         -   5) a hook for vertically hanging said case when in said open             position;     -   b) storing user information remotely by a service provider;     -   c) requesting said user information from said service provider         by said user;     -   d) authenticating request by said user to said service provider         by giving said unique identifier and a PIN to said service         provider; and     -   e) transferring said user information to a medical provider.

It will be appreciated that many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above description. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the following claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. 

1. A mobile medicine cabinet comprising: a) a first half of a case and a second half of a case, wherein said first and second halves are connected along one side by a hinge; b) a multiplicity of holders, adapted for removably securing medication containers, positioned on an interior face of said first half; c) one or more labels for identifying a user of said cabinet; and d) a hook for vertically hanging said case.
 2. The mobile medicine cabinet of claim 1, wherein said first and second halves are constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of a ballistic material, a thermally insulated material, and a moisture resistant material.
 3. The mobile medicine cabinet of claim 1, wherein said first and second halves comprise a ballistic, thermally insulated, and moisture resistant material.
 4. The mobile medicine cabinet of claim 1, further comprising an adjustable length carrying strap attached to said case.
 5. The mobile medicine cabinet of claim 1, wherein said one or more labels comprises a unique identifier.
 6. A mobile medicine cabinet comprising: a) a first half of a case and a second half of a case, wherein said first and second halves are pivotably attached to one another so that said first and second halves are pivotal relative to each other between a closed position in which the first and second halves are generally parallel to each other, and an open position in which the first and second halves are pivoted away from each other, the case closable when said first and second halves are in the closed position by closing a zipper mutually attached to the first and second halves, the case when closed determining a thermally insulated and moisture resistant interior cavity; b) a multiplicity of holders, adapted for removably securing medication containers, positioned on an interior face of said first half; c) one or more labels for identifying a user of said cabinet; d) a medication information storage compartment; and e) a hook for vertically hanging said case when in said open position.
 7. The mobile medicine cabinet of claim 6, wherein said one or more labels are positioned on an interior face of said second half.
 8. The mobile medicine cabinet of claim 6, further comprising a flap attached to said second half, wherein said hook is attached to said flap.
 9. The mobile medicine cabinet of claim 6, further comprising an adjustable length carrying strap attached to said case.
 10. The mobile medicine cabinet of claim 6, wherein said first and second halves comprise a ballistic material.
 11. The mobile medicine cabinet of claim 6, wherein said case further comprises a reflective material.
 12. The mobile medicine cabinet of claim 6, wherein said one or more labels comprises a unique identifier.
 13. The mobile medicine cabinet of claim 12, wherein said unique identifier is selected from the group consisting of a series of numbers, a series of letters, and a series of numbers and letters.
 14. A mobile medicine cabinet comprising: a) a first half of a case and a second half of a case, wherein said first and second halves are pivotably attached to one another so that said first and second halves are pivotal relative to each other between a closed position in which the first and second halves are generally parallel to each other, and an open position in which the first and second halves are pivoted away from each other, the case closable when said first and second halves are in the closed position by closing a zipper mutually attached to the first and second halves, the case when closed determining a thermally insulated and moisture resistant interior cavity; b) a multiplicity of holders, adapted for removably securing medication containers, positioned on an interior face of said first half; c) one or more labels for identifying a user of said cabinet, wherein said one or more labels comprises a unique identifier; d) a hook for vertically hanging said case; e) a flap attached to said second half, wherein said hook is attached to said flap; f) an adjustable length carrying strap attached to said case; g) a medication information storage compartment affixed to an interior face of said second half; and h) a reflective material on an exterior surface of said case.
 15. A method of using a mobile medicine cabinet comprising: a) providing a mobile medicine cabinet comprising: 1) a first half of a case and a second half of a case, wherein said first and second halves are connected along one side by a hinge; 2) a multiplicity of holders, adapted for removably securing medication containers, positioned on an interior face of said first half; 3) one or more labels for identifying a user of said cabinet; 4) a hook for vertically hanging said case; b) storing user information remotely by a service provider; c) requesting said user information from said service provider by said user; d) authenticating request by said user to said service provider by giving said unique identifier and a PIN to said service provider; and e) transferring said user information to a medical provider.
 16. The method of using a mobile medicine cabinet of claim 15, wherein said PIN is selected from the group consisting of a series of numbers, a password, a series of letters, a series of numbers and letters, and a series of questions and answers.
 17. The method of using a mobile medicine cabinet of claim 15, further comprising updating said user information by communicating new user information with said service provider.
 18. A method of using a mobile medicine cabinet comprising: a) providing a mobile medicine cabinet comprising: 1) a first half of a case and a second half of a case, wherein said first and second halves are pivotably attached to one another so that said first and second halves are pivotal relative to each other between a closed position in which the first and second halves are generally parallel to each other, and an open position in which the first and second halves are pivoted away from each other, the case closable when said first and second halves are in the closed position by closing a zipper mutually attached to the first and second halves, the case when closed determining a thermally insulated and moisture resistant interior cavity; 2) a multiplicity of holders, adapted for removably securing medication containers, positioned on an interior face of said first half; 3) one or more labels for identifying a user of said cabinet; 4) a medication information storage compartment; 5) a hook for vertically hanging said case when in said open position; and b) storing user information remotely by a service provider; c) requesting said user information from said service provider by said user; d) authenticating request by said user to said service provider by giving said unique identifier and a PIN to said service provider; and e) transferring said user information to a medical provider.
 19. The method of using a mobile medicine cabinet of claim 18, wherein said PIN is selected from the group consisting of a series of numbers, a password, a series of letters, a series of numbers and letters, and a series of questions and answers.
 20. The method of using a mobile medicine cabinet of claim 18, further comprising updating said user information by communicating new user information with said service provider. 